Intel Core 2

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Intel Core 2

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Core 2||~ Produced || From 2006 to 2010 ||
Common manufacturer(s)
  • Intel
Max. CPU clock rate
 1.06 GHz to 3.33 GHz
FSB speeds
 533 MHz to 1600 MHz
Min. feature size
 65 nm to 45 nm
Instruction set
 x86, x86-64, (SSE4.1 is for 45 nm processors only)
Microarchitecture
 Core
Cores
 1, 2, or 4 (2x2)
Socket(s)
Core name(s)
  • Allendale, Conroe, Conroe-L, Merom-2M, Merom, Merom-L, Kentsfield, Wolfdale, Yorkfield, Penryn
Core 2 is a brand encompassing a range of Intel's consumer 64-bit x86-64 single-, dual-, and quad-core microprocessors based on the Core microarchitecture. The single- and dual-core models are single-die, whereas the quad-core models comprise two dies, each containing two cores, packaged in a multi-chip module.[1[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2#cite_note-TG_Daily-0|]]] The introduction of Core 2 relegated the Pentium brand to the mid-range market, and reunified laptop and desktop CPU lines, which previously had been divided into the Pentium 4, Pentium D, and Pentium M brands.
The Core microarchitecture returned to lower clock rates and improved the usage of both available clock cycles and power when compared with the preceding NetBurst microarchitecture of the Pentium 4/D-branded CPUs.[2[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2#cite_note-1|]]] The Core microarchitecture provides more efficient decoding stages, execution units, caches, and buses, reducing the power consumption of Core 2-branded CPUs while increasing their processing capacity. Intel's CPUs have varied widely in power consumption according to clock rate, architecture, and semiconductor process, shown in the CPU power dissipation tables.
Core-based processors do not have the Hyper-Threading Technology found in Pentium 4 processors. This is because the Core microarchitecture is a descendant of the P6 microarchitecture used by Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, and Pentium M. Core 2 also lacks an L3 Cache found in the Gallatin core of the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, although an L3 Cache is present in high-end versions of Core-based Xeons and Hyper-Threading is present on select Atom processors. Both an L3 cache and Hyper-threading is present in current Nehalem and Westmere processors.
The Core 2 brand was introduced on July 27, 2006,[3[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2#cite_note-2|]]] comprising the Solo (single-core), Duo (dual-core), Quad (quad-core), and in 2007, the Extreme (dual- or quad-core CPUs for enthusiasts) version.[4[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2#cite_note-3|]]] Intel Core 2 processors with vPro technology (designed for businesses) include the dual-core and quad-core branches.[5[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2#cite_note-4|]]]